“Forfeits,” from J. & L. Randall, Ltd., in England, offered activities for party guests.  The art is snappy, and the red and green color scheme is attractive; but I can’t imagine that some of the suggestions would turn out well. (Posted by Doug Skinner)

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We have another “Old Maid” deck, old, worn, and incomplete.  It features imitations of comic strip characters, such as this approximation of Buster Brown.  Other personalities include Old Foxy (Foxy Grandpa) and Katz’s Kid (Katzenjammer Kids).  The Old Maid seems peevish in their company, but she does have a nice hat. (Posted by Doug Skinner)

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“ABC Educational Cards” was published by Ed-U-Cards in 1956.  The deck contained both number and letter cards, all in this breezy, colorful style. (Posted by Doug Skinner)

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The good doctor is shown here extolling Cow & Gate’s “Milk Food,” in the “Cow & Gate Happy Family Game.”  The other families — Allsmiles, Carr, Pill, Cowangate, Churn, Cheerful, Dunkley, Giles, Feedus, Nice, and Allwise — also seem to enjoy the company’s line of dairy products. (Posted by Doug Skinner.  Thanks to Angela Alverson.)

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The U.S. Playing Card Company published these “Nation’s Capitol Souvenir Playing Cards” in 1909.  Photos of places of interest were overlaid with pastel tints: blue for hearts, green for diamonds, and pink for spades and clubs.  The Joker was Dupont Circle. The backs are unusually lovely: (Posted by Doug Skinner)

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Kilimanjaro Productions published this African-themed deck in 1979.  I like its lush, formal illustrations. (Posted by Doug Skinner)

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“Grandfather’s Whiskers,” from John Waddington Ltd. (of Leeds and London) promised “3 games in 1.”  You could match the heads and bodies; you could connect incongruous heads and bodies for “over one thousand humorous figure combinations”; or you could work the “jig-type puzzles” on the backs of the cards. (Posted by Doug Skinner.  Thanks to […]

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“Wild Animals” — “For School and Home Play” — was created in 1903 by Louis M. Schiel, Principal of the 23rd District School in Cincinnati, for The Cincinnati Game Company, and published by Parker Brothers.  It came with a 16-page booklet, describing its many educational uses. (Posted by Doug Skinner)

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“All Star Comics,” a 1934 creation from Whitman and the King Features Syndicate, featured characters from a number of comic strips: “Krazy Kat,” “Dumb Dora,” “The Katzenjammer Kids,” “Little Annie Rooney,” and “Just Kids.”  This is Mush Stebbins, from “Just Kids.” (Posted by Doug Skinner)

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Much to my surprise, I found this charcoal sketch at the flea market last weekend.  The artist, Edward C. Caswell, frequently sketched Village subjects.  Edwards is seen here as a sidewalk sketch artist at an outdoor art show.  A note accompanied it: “This was drawn in Macdougal Alley and Macdougal St.  Bobby had just told […]

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